Method for carbonizing woolen fabrics



Jan. 24, 1933. p. KELLER 3 v METHOD FOR CARBONIZING WOOLEN FABRICS Filed Dec. 27. 1.929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 24, 1933. K 1,895,263

METHOD FOR CARBONIZING WOOLEN FABRICS Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PETER KELLER, OF GERA, GERMANY, .ASSIGNOR TO THEIIRM M. RUDOLF J'AHB, O]? GERA, GERMANY, A JOINT STOCK COMPANY OF GERMANY METHOD FOR CARBONIZING WOOLEN FABRICS Application filed December 27, 1929, Serial No. 417,016, and. in Germany December 29,1928.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for carbonizing-woolen fabrics. In carbonizing apparatus for woolen fabrics comprising several chambers the fabric is first freed of the major part of the water, whereupon it is subjected to preliminary drying, and thereafter passed through drying chambers heated at increasing temperatures, until finally it is exposed in a carbonizing chamber to the highest temperature needed in the process. By means of one or more fans air is blown into the chamber of highest temperature, and the said air fiows in opposition to the fabric successively through the chambers of lower temperatures. In the chambers of higher temperature the air vaporizes the wool fat, and the said fat is precipitated within the chambers of lower temperature while conglomerating into drops spoiling the fabric. Various efforts have been made to overcome this difficulty, and yet it is necessary to throw the carbonizing apparatus out of operation after a comparativ-ely short time for thoroughly cleaning the same.

In the known method the air is thus passed through the chambers in opposition to the fabric because it is desired to heat the last or carbonizing chamber by means of air which is as dry as possible. As distinguished. from the method now in use I pass the air through the apparatus in the same direction as the fabric, the said air being supplied to the apparatus at the side where the fabric is passed into the same, and it is gradually heated by providing heating means at the intake side of the first chamber and between the successive chambers. If in one of the chambers wool fat has been vaporized and taken up by the air, it can not'be precipitated within the apparatus, and it escapes therefrom in the form of vapor. Thus the cause of the formation of fat drops spoiling the fabric is obviated. Further, by thus conducting and heating the air heating apparatus of even size can be used in all the chambers. In this respect my improved apparatus is superior to the old apparatus in which fresh air is directly taken into the chamber of highest temperature,'and in which therefore a very large radiator is needed for heatmg the air from normal to carbonizing temperature, while the following heating requires radiators of comparatively small size. To provide radiators of different size is objectionable because the resistance opposed thereby to the flow of the air varies.

In my improved apparatus the air is first moderately heated, and thereafter the temperature is successively raised,v until it is brought to the high temperature necessaryfor carbonizing. In all the chambers radiators of even size may be used, which offer the same resistance to the flow of the air. The consumption of heat is comparatively low. Thus fewer radiators of different type and size are needed, and as a matter of fact In the figures the path of the air has been marked by heavy lines.

In the construction shown in the figures the apparatus comprises a chamber I for preliminarily heating the fabrics, three drying chambers II, III and IV in which the temperature of the air is successively raised, and a car bonizing chamber V. 1

The said chambers of the apparatus are provided by vertical partitions 1", 7 ,1 and 9" extending from the top of the apparatus downwardly to points away from the bottom thereof. In addition near the left wall of each chamber partitions w 'w 10 w and w are provided by means of which trunks k ,'7c k 70* and k are formed at the left side of each chamber, and the said partitions 'w to 10 are curved to the right at their top ends. The partition 101 extends downwardly to a point slightly below the intake a, and the partitions Q02 to Q05 extend downwardly to points spaced from the bottom of the apparatus thusproviding passages for the transmission of air from one chamber to the next one.

Within the trunks 70 to k radiators b If, h, it and i are provided, and all the said radiators have the same size and the same heating capacity.

Adjacent chambers are connected with each other by suction boxes s s 8 and 8* and each suction box s 8 s and s is connected by a suction passage g with the median part of one chamber and through a pas sage a, a a and a with the succeeding chamber II, III, IV and V, and more particularly with the heating trunk k 7: 0 and is thereof. Each suction box s s 8 and s is provided with a rotary valve or gate 6 b 6 and b for admitting a limited supply of fresh air to the air circulated through the apparatus. At the delivery side of each box a 1 fan orblower 0 '0 o and o is rovided b means of which the air is drawn from one chamber and blown into the heating trunk 70 k 7.1 and k of the next chamber. In addition a suction box 8 and a fan '0 are provided in connection with the chamber V for drawing the air therefrom and delivering the same through a pipe 2 to the outer air.

The fabric a: is taken into the apparatus and into. the chamber I from the left side thereof, and it leaves the apparatus through an .outlet made at the bottom of the right Wall of the carbonizing chamber V. The manner of passing the fabric through the apparatus is known in the art and I deem it not necessary to describe the same in detail.

The air is taken into the apparatus from the left side thereof at a, and it is immediately heated at comparatively low temperature by means of the radiator 71. provided near the intake of the apparatus. The air is circulated through the apparatus by means of. the said fans '0 to '0, and in the example shown in the temperature thereof.

by the dotted lines 3 to y. The air which has thus been taken in by the fans is circulated through the chamber, and it does not get into the portion of the previous chamber through which the fabric is passed, but is directly blown upwardl through the heating trunk of the following chamber for being delivered into the same after being heat- 'ed. Preferably the fans and suction boxes are located outside each chamber where ready access can be had thereto.

I claim:

1. The method of carbonizing fabrics which comprises passing the fabric to bc carbonized through a series of separate zones in succession, passing heated air through said zones in like succession, and supplying sufficient additional heat to the air passing through said zones to prevent decrease in the 2. The method of carbonizing fabrics which comprises passing the fabric to be carbonized through a series of separate zones in succession, passing heated air through said zones in like succession, and supplying suificient additional heat to the air passing through said zones to effect progressive increase in the temperature thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

PETER KELLER.

figures one fan is provided between successive chambers.

The air flowing upwardly through the trunks k to 70 is distributed over the whole area of the chambers I to V and it flows downfabric. moves through theeapparatus.

As has been stated above all the radiators k to h have the same size, they require the same room, and therefore the resistance opposed to the movement of the air is alike." .There is no possibilit of vaporized wool fat being precipitate be- 

